Adjustable car-step.



W. D. OSTERHOUDT.

ADJUSTABLE CAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 191s. 1,083,127.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

y SH01/umg W. D. OSTERHOUDT.

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1913.

17,083,127, Patented Dee. so, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n mma COLUMNA PLANOGRAPH C0.,w^SH|N aaaaaaaa vented new and useful lemr WILLIAM D. OSTERHOUDT, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

To all whom t may concern.' i

Be it known that I, VILLIAM D. OsTnR- HOUDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county -of Dutchess and State of `New York, have in- Improvements in Adjustable Car-Steps, of which the follow-l ing is a specification.

vailway coaches for the most part have liXed steps whereby ingress and egress is had. Such steps terminate some distance from the road Vb-ed in order to prevent their Vcoming in contact with objects and be- Vcoming broken or disabled.

This necessitates the use of a boX or like device to enable the passenger to reach the first step when entering the car or to leave the last step when leaving the car.

The present invention provides an adjustable step which when not required for immediate use may be elevated so as to be out of the way and which when required for use may be lowered thereby providing for the convenience of the traveling public when entering or leaving a passenger coach.

The invention consists of bars slidably mounted beneath the ordinary car steps so as to be out of the way, said bars having a limited sliding movement and being connected by means of braces. Brackets are pivotally and adjustably connected with the lower ends of the sliding bars and a step is attached to such brackets, the parts being arranged so that when the movable step is elevated it occupies a position beneath the lowermost or first ste-p of the ordinary car steps and which movable step when lowered is firmly supported in convenient position to admit of passengers entering or leaving the car with ease and convenience.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,'forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a detail view in perspective of a pair of car steps provided with an adjustable car step embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudi-V nal section of the steps, the dotted lines showing the movable step elevated and the full lines illustrating the position of the movable step lowered. Fig. 3 is a view of the steps as seen from the under side. Fig. 4t is adetail view of one of the brackets for the movable step. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing more clearly the adjustable stop tted to each of the slidable bars to limit its downward movement.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the fixed steps such as generally provided at the ends of the platform of passenger coaches, said steps being stationary and comprising stringers 2, treads 3 and risers 4. Hangers 5 and 6 are secured to the stringers 2 of the steps and slidably support bars 7 which have their lower ends widened as indicatedat 8. The bars 7 slide thro-ugh openings formed in the lower ends of the hangers 5 and 6 and have a limited sliding movement which is determined by the movable step 8 and adjustable stops 9 the latter being secured to the bars 7 near their upper ends and arranged to engage the hangers 5 so as to limit the downward movement of the bars when the step 8 is at the limit of its downward movement. LBraces 10 connect the bars 7 such braces crossing intermediate of their ends and having their terminal portions bentand apertured to receive fastenings by means of which said braces are connected to the bars 7. A cable 11 or like flexible connection is attached to the braces 10 preferably at their point of crossing, said cable passing over a guide pulley 12 and extending within convenient reach to be operated to eEect a raising or lowering of the movable step S. A roller 13 is located at the lower end of each of the hangers G and reducesthe friction between the bar 7 and hanger so that the movable step may be easilv raised or lowered when operating the cable 11 or like part.

A bracket 14 is provided for each end of the movable step 8 and is secured thereto, said bracket having its rear portion widened as indicated at 15 and formed with an arcuate slot 16 which is concentric with the pivot fastening 17 between such bracket and the lower end of the bar 7. A fastening 18 supported in the lower end of the bar 7 passes through the slot 16 and serves to secure the bracket 14 in the required position thereby admitting of the bracket and a movable step 8 being adjusted so as to occupy a relatively los i the method of operation will be readily apnow consider to be the best embodiment i position bene-ath the Copies of this patent may be obtained for horizontal position. The movable step 8 is secured to the brackets 14 in any convenient and substantial way.

IVhen installing the invention the hangers 5 and 6 are located near the upper and lower ends of the stringers 2 of the ordinary position about. midway between the platform at the station and the tirst step of the stationary car steps thereby adding to the convenience ot the passenger when entering or leaving the car. IVhen it is desired to elevate the movable step S the cable or iiexible connection 11 is drawn upon thereby causing the bars 7 to slide in the hangers 5 and 6 with the result that the step 8 is brought to lower or first step or" the stationary car steps as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages ot' the construction and of parent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are wit-hin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim Y 1. In combination with the usual stationary' car steps, a bar slidable beneath such i steps and steps, a bracket adjustably connected with the lower end of the bar and movable therewith and a step attached to said bracket and adapted to come beneath theJ lowermost tread of the car steps when. the bar is elevated,

2. In combination with the usual stationary car steps, hangers with such steps, a bar the hangers, a step connected with the lower end of the bar and adapted to occupy a position beneath the lowermost tread ot' the stepswhen the bar is elevated and a stop adjustably connected with the bar to limit the downward movement of the bar and step when the latter is lowered. Y f

3.V In combination Vwith the usual stat-ionary steps of cars, bars slidable beneath such having their lower ends widened, brackets having their inner ends' widened and pivotally connected with the lower ends oi the bars and tormedin their widened ends with arcuate slots, means for securing the having 'connection slldably mounted inV brackets to the bars in the desired adjusted position and a step connected with' suoli brackets.

4. In combination with `the usual stationary steps ot' cars, hangers having connection with the stringere of such steps, bars slidably mounted in the hangers, braces connecting the bars, stops adjustably connected with the bars and adapted -to engage one of the hangers to limit'the downward movement of the bars, a step connected with the lower ends of the bars and a tleXible connection attached to the crossed braces and adapted to extend within convenient reach to admit of operation of the bars when it is required to raisev or lower the movable step.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM D. OSTERIIOUDT. lVitnesses:

C. B. STRAIN,

CHARLES F. SKINNER.

Washington, D. C. 

